Title: Goddess for Hire
Author: Sonia Singh
Genre: Chick-Lit
Publisher: Avon Trade (imprint of Harper Collins)
Price: officially$13.95, but was at Barnes and Noble for $4.99

I probably broke the cardinal rule of book buying when I picked this up- I bought it because of the cover. Sorry, but it’s a great cover! Plus, I really have a thing for indian culture, clothes, music, and food. Unfortunately for me, this book doesn’t contain much of that. This is in no way a detraction from the story- but I really wish the author had actually played up the indian side for her own sake since that’s what really separates this book from the other chick-lits.

Of course, most other chick-lits don’t have the goddess Kali being reborn as an unemployed, spoiled indian girl just outside of LA.

I was impressed with Singh’s writing style. Not so much that she did any one thing right, but more because she didn’t actually do anything wrong. I believe this is her first novel and you can tell that she polished the hell out of it. Her descriptions were good, though I wouldn’t say actually vivid. She did very well with dropping just enough hints that you could form a picture in your mind without having her image imposed on you. The sole exception to this was the main character (Maya) herself. Maya actually describes herself several times throughout the book- but that wouldn’t be annoying to the average reader since she’s not actually overbearing with it.

The only real drawback that I saw in the story is that there is nothing in the book that makes you actually care. Maya’s dharma is to save the world, while keeping herself from being obliterated by a fanatical Kali hater. However, at no point do we fear for ourselves, or even for her. Part of that may be because attempts on her life are met with derision and annoyance rather than fear and determination. But, I really think that it has more to do with Maya being a distinctly unlikable person. She’s completely self absorbed and her only interests are alchohol, sex, and shopping. Oh, and insulting people who insult her. Ok, that describes just about all of the protags in just about all of the best selling chick-lits. Maybe that’s why I’ve become so fond of christian chick-lit? All of the sass, none of the “I’d hit this woman if I ever met her”.

Still, her character does arc a bit. She becomes a bit less self absorbed and learns to defeat evil with minimal violence. But again, you don’t actually care. The story arcs a bit, but it’s not a strong arc. Nothing ever really escalates beyond Maya’s control. Her main emotion is irritation and a bit of depression once she realizes that she wasted her life. If Singh had simply had Maya unemployed after a string of disasters (ok, not cut out for retail. Not cut out for food service. Not cut out for… Oh, I give up) it would have given her character a bit more body. Something that makes her seem worthwhile. Ok, so she’s a failure, but at least she tried.

Singh does first person very well. Dialogue isn’t bad- not the best I’ve seen, but better than most best sellers. In fact, that’s pretty much how I feel about almost everything in this book. Not the best, but better than most.

Bottom line- I was expecting Bend It Like Beckhem, but I got Goddess Wears Manalos.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 21st, 2007 at 5:24 pm and is filed under reviews, What I'm Reading, writer's review. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.